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Thursday, February 5, 2026

Health giant McKesson up 15% on updated outlook

 McKesson Corporation shares rose over 15% on Thursday after the company reported third-quarter fiscal 2026 results and an outlook that surpassed market expectations.

The Texas healthcare company revealed that revenues reached $106.2 billion in the quarter, an 11% increase year-over-year, driven by strong prescription volumes and significant growth in the oncology and multispecialty segments.

The management now anticipates total revenue growth between 12% and 16%. The company raised its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) outlook, expecting it to land in the range of $38.80 to $39.20 for fiscal 2026. McKesson stock traded 15.55% higher to sell for $949.8 at 12:10 pm ET.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Health-giant-McKesson-up-15-on-updated-outlook/65617455

'Witkoff: US, Russia to establish military-to-military dialogue'

 United States Special Envoy Steve Witkoff revealed in a statement on Thursday that during the US-Ukraine-Russia trilateral meeting held in Abu Dhabi, Washington and Moscow agreed to establish a military-to-military dialogue, which was previously suspended.

Talking about the meeting in general, Witkoff mentioned that it was "constructive and focused on how to create the conditions for a durable peace," with Russia and Ukraine agreeing to release another 157 prisoners of war.

The trilateral discussions are expected to continue in the coming weeks, the US official added.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Witkoff:-US-Russia-to-establish-military-to-military-dialogue/65617517

Challenger: US job cuts soar by 205% to 108,435 in January

 Job cuts in the United States observed a monthly slump of 205% and an annual one of 118% to reach 108,435 in January, Challenger, Gray & Christmas revealed in its report published on Thursday. The figure is the highest one registered for January since 2009, and the highest monthly one since last October.

Most jobs, 31,243, were cut in transportation, followed by technology at 22,291, and healthcare at 17,107. Meanwhile, employers announced 5,306 hiring plans, the lowest number for the month since tracking began in 2009.

"Generally, we see a high number of job cuts in the first quarter, but this is a high total for January. It means most of these plans were set at the end of 2025, signaling employers are less-than-optimistic about the outlook for 2026," Challenger's Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) Andy Challenger said.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Challenger:-US-job-cuts-soar-by-205-to-108435-in-January/65614564

'Iran's army warns US bases are within its reach'

 Iran's military issued a warning to the United States on Thursday, stating that US bases in the region are vulnerable and within its operational reach. Army spokesman Amir Akraminia said US President Donald Trump "must choose between compromise or war."

Akraminia said the military is prepared for any scenario the "enemy" may choose, including war. He noted that alongside the new 1,000 drones, air defense systems have been upgraded and made operational. He warned that any war would spread across the region, targeting all US bases, from the occupied territories to the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman.

"Our access to US bases is easy, and this increases their vulnerability … This has been our message, and we have stated it repeatedly. Once again, we state decisively that we have full readiness to defend the country," the spokesman stressed.

https://breakingthenews.net/Article/Iran's-army-warns-US-bases-are-within-its-reach/65612659

$49 Wegovy Copycat Pill Sparks Selloff In Novo Shares

 Just when Goldman's long-time Novo Nordisk bull James Quigley likely thought the downside was exhausted, the stock plunged yet again on Thursday after tumbling earlier this week following a dismal sales outlook.

Shares dropped below the six-month base in the stock around the 300 kroner level after telehealth firm Hims & Hers Health rolled out a cheaper copycat version of Wegovy, delivering another blow to the beleaguered Danish drugmaker.

"Today, we're taking the next step in personalized care by introducing a Compounded Semaglutide Pill for weight loss, with introductory plans starting at just $49 for the first month* with a 5-month plan," HIMS wrote in a press release.

HIMS' weight-loss pill comes shortly after Novo launched the Wegovy pill in January for $149 per month.

Last June, Novo terminated its partnership, citing the telehealth company's "illegal mass compounding and deceptive marketing."

On Tuesday, Novo reported a disappointing full-year outlook, warning of a tough year in the GLP-1 market. Besides HIMS, the company faces competition from Eli Lilly's Zepbound, gaining ever-larger market share in the U.S.

Only last week, Goldman analyst Faris Mourad was telling clients that "obesity drugs narrative sentiment is on the rise" and "it's an opportunity to buy the dip."

Goldman's Quigley noted, "FY26 is a reset year with respect to the pricing aspect of the GLP-1 market."

https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/49-wegovy-copycat-pill-sparks-selloff-novo-shares

Polymarket opens NYC's first free grocery store in downtown Manhattan

 A prediction market company best known for allowing users to bet on world events is stepping into New York City’s food scene — if only briefly — with the launch of what it’s calling the city’s first-ever free grocery store.

Polymarket will be open for New Yorkers in Lower Manhattan starting at 12PM from Feb. 12 through Feb. 16, according to the NYC for Free website. It’s being described as the city’s first free grocery store, "fully stocked" and requiring no purchase.

Polymarket posted on X, Tuesday, that the idea took "months of planning." In addition to paying for the lease, the company said it had donated $1 million to Food Bank For New York City to support "an organization that changes how our city responds to hunger."

Daily hours and the grocery store’s closing date are subject to change, according to the website.

Inside view of Polymarket's grocery store

An inside view of The Polymarket shows the variety of free food available. (Photo courtesy of Polymarket)

Photos on social media show the market offering a variety of food staples — from produce, milk, eggs and bread to brand-name snacks such as Pringles, Sour Patch Kids and Oreo cookies.

Polymarket did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment on why it is opening what it calls the city’s first free grocery store.

The announcement comes just days after rival Kalshi made a similar move, when owner George Zoitas gave hundreds of shoppers at Westside Market in the East Village $50 each toward their groceries.

The bold marketing tactics by both Polymarket and Kalshi may be seen as a nod to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pledge to open government-run grocery stores. Mamdani told Fox News Digital during his campaign that it will be possible for a "partnership" between the city and grocery store and bodega owners, despite his plan to open five city-run stores.

Mamdani appeared to poke fun at the announcement in an X post on Wednesday afternoon, replying directly to Polymarket’s post with a photo of a satirical headline that read, "Heartbreaking: The worst person you know just made a great point."

https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/betting-company-polymarket-opens-nycs-first-free-grocery-store-downtown-manhattan

DHS Secretary Noem Identifies Another Leaker, Refers To DOJ For Prosecution

 by 'sundance' via The Last Refuge,

The good news is the process to identify the subversive agents inside the various offices of the administration continues to yield results.  The bad news is there’s a lot of them to identify and remove.

Dept of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shares another leaker has been identified and removed. 

Additionally, she is referring their conduct to the Dept of Justice for criminal prosecution.

[SOURCE]

Both Noem and Gabbard appear to be continuing their methodical approach without fear or favor. 

Secretary Noem facing down the internal resistors within the FBI, who have been leaking about ICE enforcement operations. 

Director Gabbard working through the tentacles of the Intelligence Community to identify similarly minded IC agents.

Meanwhile there was some media controversy about the FBI Special Agent in charge of the Atlanta Field office being removed from his position just prior to the execution of a federal search warrant in Fulton County.   

The reason for that removal now seems to come to light with the release of letter former Agent Paul Brown sent to Elections Director Nadine Williams giving her a head’s-up on the material the FBI was going to seize.

FBI Agent Brown asks Ms Williams to voluntarily hand over the material, which has the result of giving Fulton County a heads-up about the specifics of the material the FBI were going to gather and review in their search warrant.

Another positive outcome amid all of this, is honestly exposing FBI Director Kash Patel’s lack of operational control over the agency he heads. 

Each day more people are starting to realize what many of us have noted from the outset. 

Without first admitting the scale and scope of the problem within the FBI, there was no way Kash Patel was ever going to address it.

The issues with the FBI are obvious; a few examples:

There were 40 FBI agents on the Robert Mueller investigation into Trump-Russia collusion.  Why would any of them still be employed? 

Additionally, think about the J6 investigations and Arctic Frost, are those FBI agents still employed within the FBI?

There is no apple, it’s all worms.

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/dhs-secretary-noem-identifies-another-leaker-refers-doj-prosecution